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Quinine sulfate and bacterial invasion
Ronni Wolf1, Adone Baroni, Rita Greco
1Dermatology Unit, Kaplan Medical Center, Rechovot, Israel. wolf_r@netvision.net.il
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials
|November 20, 2002
Summary
Quinacrine (QS) does not kill bacteria directly but significantly inhibits Escherichia coli invasion into host cells. This suggests antimalarial drugs may offer protection against bacterial infections in immunosuppressed patients.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Immunology
Background:
- Patients on antimalarials for inflammatory diseases are often immunosuppressed.
- These patients may have concurrent bacterial infections, necessitating additional antibiotic treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of antimalarial drugs against bacterial infections.
- To determine if antimalarials can protect against or treat bacterial infections, potentially replacing antibiotics.
Main Methods:
- Assessed the effect of quinacrine (QS) on Escherichia coli (E. coli) growth and invasion into HeLa cells.
- QS was tested at concentrations of 50 and 100 microM.
- QS was applied before or during bacterial infection of host cells.
Main Results:
- QS demonstrated no direct antibacterial activity against E. coli after 24 hours.
- QS significantly inhibited bacterial invasion into host cells in a dose-dependent manner.
- Inhibition was more pronounced when QS pre-treated host cells.
Conclusions:
- Quinacrine (QS) does not possess direct antibacterial properties.
- QS effectively inhibits the internalization of E. coli into host cells.
- Antimalarials like QS may play a role in managing bacterial infections in specific patient populations.